Elections for 99 seats in the
Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 7, 2014. The general election was held on
November 4, 2014. The
signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 3, 2014.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Tennessee House of Representatives. The chamber was controlled by the Republican Party, which increased its total seats from 71 to 73. The Democratic Party had a net loss of one seat, dropping their total from 27 to 26. State Representative Kent Williams represented the Carter County Republican Party in the chamber, but did not run for re-election. Following his retirement, the chamber held only Democrats and Republicans.
Incumbents retiring[edit]
A total of nine incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:
Majority control[edit]
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives:
| Tennessee House of Representatives
|
| Party
|
As of November 3, 2014
|
After November 4, 2014
|
|
|
Democratic Party
|
27
|
26
|
|
|
Republican Party
|
71
|
73
|
|
|
Carter County Republican
|
1
|
0
|
| Total
|
99
|
99
|
Competitiveness[edit]
Candidates unopposed by a major party[edit]
In 59 (59.6%) of the 99 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of 15 Democrats and 44 Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 40 (40.4%) of the 99 districts up for election.
Competitive
- District 13: Incumbent Gloria Johnson (D) was defeated by Eddie Smith (R) in the general election. Johnson won the general election by a margin of victory of 1 percent in 2012.
- District 33: Incumbent John Ragan defeated Caitlin Nolan in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election. Ragan won the general election by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
- District 43: Kevin Dunlap defeated Kristopher Gore and James Thomas Jacobs in the Democratic primary. He defeated Robert F. Dunham (R) and Edward Buck (I) in the general election. Incumbent Paul Bailey (R) won the general election by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
- District 50: Incumbent Bo Mitchell (D) defeated Troy Brewer (R) in the general election. Mitchell won the general election by a margin of victory of 0.6 percent in 2012.
- District 60: Incumbent Darren Jernigan (D) defeated Jim Gotto (R) in the general election. Jernigan won the general election by a margin of victory of 0.4 percent in 2012.
- District 74: Incumbent John Tidwell (D) was defeated by Jay Reedy (R) in the general election. Tidwell won the general election by a margin of victory of 5 percent in 2012.
Primary challenges[edit]
A total of 21 incumbents faced primary competition on August 7. Nine incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 70 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The representatives that faced primary competition were:
Retiring incumbents[edit]
Nine incumbent representatives did not run for re-election, while 90 (90.9%) of the current 99 incumbents ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, one Democrat and eight Republicans, can be found above.
Qualifications[edit]
To be eligible to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[1]
- A U.S. citizen
- 21 years old before the general election
- A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
- A county resident for 1 year prior to the general election
- A qualified voter
- The following situations would eliminate a candidate from qualifying for office:
- Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
- Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
- Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
- Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
- Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.
List of candidates[edit]
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Jon C. Lundberg
a - Incumbent Lundberg was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jon C. Lundberg: 9,460 
Harold Wayne Tucker (write-in): 1
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
Note: Nicholas Castle was removed from the candidate list before the primary.
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Bud Hulsey: 12,249 
J.R. Enfield: 2,302
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Timothy Hill: 10,709 
Vance A. Carrier (write-in): 4
Note: Incumbent Kent Williams (R) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Rob Martin: 2,329
John B. Holsclaw, Jr.: 10,590 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
David B. Hawk: 8,396 
Kermit E. Steck: 2,798
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
James (Micah) Van Huss: 11,416 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Matthew Hill: 9,487 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Art Swann
a - Incumbent Swann was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Art Swann: 12,816 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Mike Harrison
a - Incumbent Harrison was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Mike Harrison: 9,118 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Tilman Goins
a - Incumbent Goins was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Tilman Goins: 9,504 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Jeremy Faison
a - Incumbent Faison was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Marjorie J. Ramsey: 2,342
Jeremy Faison: 8,289 
Roland A. Dykes, III: 1,549
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Dale Carr
a - Incumbent Carr was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Dale Carr: 10,869 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Gloria Johnson
a - Incumbent Johnson was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Gloria Johnson: 6,548
Eddie Smith: 6,730 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Ryan A. Haynes
a - Incumbent Haynes was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
November 4 General election candidates:
Ryan A. Haynes: 17,664 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Joseph "Joe" Armstrong: 5,464 
Pete Drew: 1,726
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Bill Dunn
a - Incumbent Dunn was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
November 4 General election candidates:
Bill Dunn: 12,660 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Andrew E. Farmer: 9,989 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Martin Daniel: 11,970 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Harry Brooks
a - Incumbent Brooks was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Harry Brooks: 11,280 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Bob Ramsey
a - Incumbent Ramsey was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
November 4 General election candidates:
John Ross Conley: 3,201
Bob Ramsey: 11,511 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Jimmy Matlock
a - Incumbent Matlock was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Pamela O. Weston: 3,746
Jimmy Matlock: 13,792 
Note: Incumbent Eric Watson (R) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Dan Howell: 11,336 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- John W. Forgety
a - Incumbent Forgety was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
John W. Forgety: 12,052 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Kevin D. Brooks
a - Incumbent Brooks was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Kevin D. Brooks: 10,896 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Cameron Sexton
a - Incumbent Sexton was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Judy Barnett: 4,435
Cameron Sexton: 14,593 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Gerald McCormick
a - Incumbent McCormick was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
November 4 General election candidates:
Gerald McCormick: 14,751 
Note: Incumbent Richard Floyd (R) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
Note: Tom McCullough was removed from the ballot before the primary. White withdrew from the race in June 2014, but still appeared on the ballot.[2]
November 4 General election candidates:
Eric McRoy: 4,505
Patsy Hazlewood: 13,337 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- JoAnne Favors
a - Incumbent Favors was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
JoAnne Favors: 9,562 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Mike Carter
a - Incumbent Carter was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Mike Carter: 12,397 
Note: Incumbent Vince Dean (R) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Marc Gravitt: 11,575 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Jim Cobb: 3,602
- Ron Travis: 6,726
a - Incumbent Travis was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Ron Travis: 11,321 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Kent Calfee
a - Incumbent Calfee was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Joe Kneiser: 3,611
Kent Calfee: 11,921 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
Note: Misty Neergaard was removed from the candidate list prior to the general election.
November 4 General election candidates:
John D. Ragan: 11,783 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Rick Womick
a - Incumbent Womick was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Rick Womick: 12,284 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jerry Sexton: 8,293 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
James Virgil Kidwell: 2,455
Dennis H. Powers: 7,966 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Dawn White: 10,909 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Kelly T. Keisling: 9,069 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Matthew Huffer: 4,627
David Alexander: 9,619 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Sarah Marie Smith: 5,696
Terri Lynn Weaver: 11,356 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
John Mark Windle: 9,237 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Ryan Williams
a - Incumbent Williams was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Mike Walsh: 3,947
Ryan Williams: 10,054 
Note: Incumbent Paul Bailey (R) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Kevin Dunlap: 6,561 
Robert F. Dunham: 6,507
Edward Leon Buck: 409
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- William Lamberth
a - Incumbent Lamberth was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
William Lamberth: 10,840 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Steven D. Puckett, Jr.: 3,958
Courtney L. Rogers: 12,185 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Mark A. Pody
a - Incumbent Pody was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Candace Reed: 4,777
Mark A. Pody: 9,896 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Judd Matheny
a - Incumbent Matheny was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Judd Matheny: 11,541 
Note: Incumbent Joe Carr (R) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
William "Bill" Campbell: 4,486
Bryan Terry: 9,067 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Mike Williams: 4,708
Mike Sparks: 7,959 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Bo Mitchell
a - Incumbent Mitchell was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Bo Mitchell: 9,109 
Troy Brewer: 8,680
Note: Incumbent Michael Turner (D) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Bill Beck: 9,188 
Brian L. Mason: 3,601
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Mike Stewart
a - Incumbent Stewart was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Mike Stewart: 7,551 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Jason Powell
a - Incumbent Powell was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
August 7 Republican primary:
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jason Powell: 6,098 
John Wang: 4,927
Tonya Miller: 417
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Brenda Gilmore
a - Incumbent Gilmore was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
August 7 Republican primary:
- Green candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Brenda Gilmore: 11,761 
- Martin Holsinger: 1,206
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
John Ray Clemmons: 10,543 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Beth Harwell
a - Incumbent Harwell was first elected to the chamber in 1988.
November 4 General election candidates:
Chris Moth: 8,601
Beth Harwell: 14,839 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Susan M. Lynn
a - Incumbent Lynn was elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jesse McLevain: 4,533
Susan M. Lynn: 14,917 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Harold M. Love
a - Incumbent Love was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Harold M. Love: 7,733 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Sherry Jones
a - Incumbent Jones was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Sherry Jones: 6,670 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Darren Jernigan
a - Incumbent Jernigan was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Darren Jernigan: 8,415 
Jim Gotto: 7,339
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Charles M. Sargent, Jr.: 17,802 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Pat Marsh
a - Incumbent Marsh was first elected to the chamber in 2009.
November 4 General election candidates:
Pat Marsh: 9,096 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Glen Casada: 17,468 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Sheila Butt
a - Incumbent Butt was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Sheila Butt: 11,213 
James Gray: 3,760
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Jeremy Durham
a - Incumbent Durham was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Bill Peach: 4,386
Jeremy Durham: 12,089 
Note: Incumbent Joshua Evans (R) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
Note: Bryan Switzer was removed from the candidate list before the primary.
Note: Kyle Roberts ended his campaign prior to the general election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Sabi (Doc) Kumar: 11,181 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Joe Pitts
a - Incumbent Pitts was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
August 7 Republican primary:
Constitution candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Joe Pitts: 6,154 
Mike Warner: 2,638
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Curtis Johnson
a - Incumbent Johnson was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
November 4 General election candidates:
Curtis Johnson: 12,872 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- David A. Shepard
a - Incumbent Shepard was first elected to the chamber in 2000.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
David A. Shepard: 6,246 
Michael Curcio: 6,231
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Barry Doss
a - Incumbent Doss was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Barry Doss: 10,364 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
David "Coach" Byrd: 9,465 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Steve K. McDaniel: 10,548 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Jimmy Eldridge
a - Incumbent Eldridge was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Shelia L. Godwin: 3,921
Jimmy Eldridge: 13,116 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- John C. Tidwell
a - Incumbent Tidwell was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
John C. Tidwell: 4,987
Jay D. Reedy: 5,401 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Tim Wirgau
a - Incumbent Wirgau was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Randy Patton: 4,628
Tim Wirgau: 8,719 
James Hart: 673
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Andy Holt
a - Incumbent Holt was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Joyce Washington: 3,933
Andy Holt: 8,959 
August 7 Democratic primary:
Note: Mark S. Oakes was removed from the candidate list before the primary.
August 7 Republican primary:
- Bill Sanderson
a - Incumbent Sanderson was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Bill Sanderson: 10,586 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Mary Littleton
a - Incumbent Littleton was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jane R. Crisp: 4,239
Mary Littleton: 10,240 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Curtis Halford
a - Incumbent Halford was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
Independent candidates:
Note: David Nance was removed from the candidate list before the primary.
November 4 General election candidates:
Bobby Barnett: 3,183
Curtis Halford: 10,877 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Johnny W. Shaw
a - Incumbent Shaw was first elected to the chamber in 2000.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Johnny W. Shaw: 7,862 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Debra F. Moody: 10,249 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Craig Fitzhugh
a - Incumbent Fitzhugh was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Craig Fitzhugh: 7,830 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Mark White
a - Incumbent White was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Mark White: 14,699 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Joe Towns, Jr.: 9,000 
August 7 Democratic primary:
Note: R.S. Ford was removed from the candidate list before the primary.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Johnnie R. Turner: 10,712 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Barbara Cooper
a - Incumbent Cooper was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Barbara Cooper: 7,595 
George T. Edwards, III: 3,115
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Karen Camper
a - Incumbent Camper was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Karen Camper: 8,791 
August 7 Democratic primary:
- Larry J. Miller
a - Incumbent Miller was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Larry J. Miller: 7,297 
Harry Barber: 3,134
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Roger Kane
a - Incumbent Kane was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Roger Kane: 12,958 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
John J. Deberry, Jr.: 9,237 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Raumesh A. Akbari: 8,053 
Samuel (Sam) Watkins: 1,777
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Billy Spivey
a - Incumbent Spivey was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Vicki Cain: 4,103
Billy Spivey: 8,089 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
G.A. Hardaway, Sr.: 6,996 
Colonel G. Billingsley: 2,507
Note: Incumbent Barrett Rich (R) did not run for re-election.
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Leigh Rosser Wilburn: 12,399 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Curry Todd
a - Incumbent Todd was first elected to the chamber in 1998.
November 4 General election candidates:
Curry Todd: 18,039 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Steve McManus
a - Incumbent McManus was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Dwayne Thompson: 6,123
Steve McManus: 9,990 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Jim Coley
a - Incumbent Coley was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim Coley: 11,637 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Antonio Parkinson: 6,930 
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 Republican primary:
- Ron Lollar
a - Incumbent Lollar was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Ron Lollar: 14,131 
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Cameron Sexton
Representatives
Republican Party (73)
Democratic Party (26)